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US, Israel war on Iran
USDiplomacy

Iran’s new supreme leader defies Trump, says Hormuz must stay blocked

In first declaration since his appointment as the country’s new supreme leader, Khamenei demands that US military bases in region must close

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Left: the Thai‑flagged cargo ship Mayuree Naree burns after being hit by Iranian missiles in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday. Right: Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. Photos: EPA/Royal Thai Navy, Iran Military Monitor via X
Lucy Quagginin New YorkandXinmei Shenin in Washington
Iran’s new supreme leader has vowed to keep blocking the Strait of Hormuz, attack US bases and avenge the blood of its martyrs in his first statement since succeeding his father. US President Donald Trump responded with an insult and threat soon after.
“The lever of blocking the Strait of Hormuz must definitely be used,” Mojtaba Khamenei said about the strategic waterway, which carries about a fifth of global oil shipments.

Khamenei urged Iran’s Gulf neighbours to close US military bases in the region “as soon as possible, because they must have realised by now that the claim of establishing security and peace by America was nothing more than a lie”.

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His remarks came as tensions between US and Iran remain high following almost two weeks of strikes and counterstrikes across the Middle East.

Also on Thursday, Iran’s central military command threatened to retaliate against the region’s oil and gas industry if its own infrastructure were attacked during the US-Israel military campaign.

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“We will set the region’s oil and gas on fire with the slightest attack on Iran’s energy infrastructure and ports,” a spokesperson said.

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